Linux set to take on Microsoft in India

MUMBAI, NOV 22: Microsoft in India is set to face a tougher job retaining market share with leading Linux distributor Red Hat announcing ...

MUMBAI, NOV 22: Microsoft in India is set to face a tougher job retaining market share with leading Linux distributor Red Hat announcing plans to step up investments in the country. Linux already has as loyal following in India through Red Hat (or any other Linux distributor) had virtually no presence here so far.

"We have historically been led to believe software is expensive," Red Hat vice-president (Europe) Colin Tenwick said. Tenwick is here to appoint premium partners who can provide support and training on Red Hat Linux.

Linux is open source software which means that it is not only free but that its source code is also not secret. Red Hat earns its revenue by charging a nominal amount for the software and services. Free downloads are available at its site but customers prefer to save internet time and buy the software which comes with manuals and other support data.

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International Data Corp statistics show the Linux market grew at a stunning 212.5 per cent in 1997-98. The software has a 17 per cent share in the operating systems market. Its stronghold is the web server market where it has upstaged Windows NT with a 28.8 per cent market share. "According to Computer World most ISPs in India also have a Linux server," Tenwick said. Linux provided a reliable and scaleable platform and reduced the total cost of ownership significantly. Quoting examples, he said a large retail bank with 1300 branches and 2000 servers had installed Linux on systems at one-fifth the cost of NT, while another large petroleum company had saved $ 10 million by opting for Linux. "The whole of the United Kingdom government has switched from Solaris (platform) to Red Hat," he added.

He said Red Hat was also exploring the possibility of setting up a development centre in India. The company has equity investments from heavyweights like IBM, Intel, Oracle and Dell. It has six development centres one of which in Asia. Tenwick will address a two-day workshop on Linux in the city on November 23.